Device for controlling horses



(No Model.)

B. J. FRASER. DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING HORSES.

' No. 448,330. Patented Mar. 17,1891

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EDW'IN .I. FRASER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, UALIFORNIA.

DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING HORSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,330, dated March 17, 1891. Application filed November 20, I890. Serial No. 372,081. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN J. FRASER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Devices for Controlling Horses; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to a device for controlling spirited, vicious, or' hard-mouthed horses and it consists of pads adapted to press upon and close the nasal passages and a means by which said pads are-actuated in connection with the bit and reins, so that the operation of the device will be automatic, act-- ing to compress the nasal passages when the horse commences to pull too hard and instantly relieving itself when he becomes quiet.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 shows the application of the device. Fig. 2 is a detached view of the device.

A is a steel or other elastic spring, made about five inches long, five-eighths of an inch wide, and about No. 26 American gage in thickness. The central portion is nearly straight for a space of about two inches, and the two ends are then bent or curved slightly with reference to this central portion so as to form a sort of arch.

B is a thin leather covering inclosing the spring A, and is provided with loops or thinlbles a.

O (J are two pads, of soft rubber or other suitable material, fastened securely to the outer ends of the spring A with screws or otherwise, as shown. These pads are preferably about one and one-fourth inch long and about five-eighths inch in thickness, and rounded off at the ends so that they will fit smoothly over the soft nasal passages about the nose andabove the nostrils.

D is a supporting-strap, which is about twenty-six inches in length, and which extends upward from the center of the spring A, and has holes at the upper end, so that it can be held and properly adjusted by a buckle 011 the top of the head-piece of an ordinary bridle or head-stall.

II is a strap of sufficient length to pass around the nose of the horse, and it has a buckle on one end and holes at the other, so

that the size may be adjusted to the nose of any horse. The buckle end is sewed securely to the lower and broadened end of a supporting-strap I. about sixteen inches long, has a loop formed at the upper end, and is adjusted in length by a buckle. The throat latch of the bridle passes through this loop, and this strap and the strap D, before described, serve to support and adjust the strap II at any desired point with relation to the horses mouth or nose. The strap II is attached to the spring by passing it through the loops a, which are formed upon the spring'cover, as before described. 'When it is applied to a horse, the strap II is buckled around the horses nose and chin, so that it forms a girdle, and the spring A is adjusted by means of loops aso as torest upon the bridge of the nose, while the pads O C are suspended loosely over the nasal passages and above the nostrils. This girdle is preferably so placed that it is about even with the angles of the mouth upon each side and is buckled at the chin.

The bitis placed low in the mouth beneath this girdle, and the side straps, which support the bit, pass outside of the same; but, if preferred, the girdle may pass beneath the bit.

In connection with this device I employ any ordinary bridle or headstali supplied with any suitable bit, such as a port, curb, jointed, or other form which, when pulled upon by the ordinary reins with extra energy, will force the horse to open his mouth.

The operation will then be as follows: In ordinary driving the horse travels with his mouth closed and the girdle fits comfortably around his nose and chin, the elastic springends A raising the pads and keeping them out of contact with the nasal passages. When the horse pulls for any reason, an increased pull is brought upon the reins, and the horses mouth will be forced open by the action of the bit. By thus increasing the distance around the nose a tension is brought upon the girdle, and this causes the spring A to bend inward and the pads C (J are forced to press upon the nasal passages, thus obstructing the breath of the horse, when he will soon cease to pull. As soon as he ceases to pull the re laxation of the reins relieves his mouth from the pressure of the bit, and the month not This supporting-strap, which is being anyv longer forced open the horse will close it of his own volition. As soon as he closes his mouth the spring A relieves the pad C from the nasal passages, so that the animal can again breath freely. It will be seen that by this construction the operation of my device is practically automatic. No supplemental rein, halter, line, or other connection with this device is necessary to be op erated upon by the driver; nor is there any connection made between this device and the ordinary reins, the reins performing their usual office in connection with the bit in the horses mouth. The operation of the bit when under extra pull will cause the horse to open his mouth, and this brings the apparatus into operation, as before described. The force is not exerted upon this device by the driver, but is exerted upon the mouth, and through the opening of the mouth the apparatus is brought into action.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let- I ters Patent, is-

from the headstall and throat-latch, and a' bit independently connected with the headstall and with the driving-reins, whereby a pull upon the reins will act to force the mouth open, and through the opening of the mouth cause the spring to be bent and the pads to press upon the nasal passages, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWIN .I. FRASER.

Witnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, H. (LIFE. 

